France to begin stopping small boats in Channel after UK pressure
French officials have consented to start stopping migrant vessels in the English Channel, following an extended period of pressure from the United Kingdom.
This policy shift comes after the Prime Minister sent a letter to the French leader asking him to back the initiative and saying there presently "lack any effective preventive measure" in the Channel.
French security forces have been authorized to intercept the small boats at sea, but only before they've collected their passengers, according to authoritative statements.
French police have infrequently intervened to stop the heavily loaded boats departing from the coastline because it is considered excessively high a risk to both personnel and individuals.
"It is essential that we implement these methods this month... We have no effective deterrent in the Channel waters."
Now, a French naval police spokesperson states officers will begin intervening at sea, with the objective of safeguarding human life.
Significantly, the spokesperson ruled out the use of entanglement devices to stop boats, which had earlier been reported as a possible technique to disable the engines of the vessels.
This determination to intervene at all is a major step forward, following a short-lived change towards a more aggressive approach this summer, which ceased when the former Interior Minister left office.
That was highlighted in July, in the run-up to a meeting between the Prime Minister and President, when French police were observed walking into the sea to damage the hulls of a vessel.
Now French officials will once more be permitted to stop boats prior to they collect migrant individuals from the beaches of northern France, although it's not clear how the small boats will be prevented.
Strong winds are currently postponing the start of interceptions and the people-smuggling networks will be seeking ways to adjust to evade detection, as they have frequently done in the past.
UK immigration authorities and the Prime Minister's office have been contacted for comment.
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